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English for Master Students

Course developers

Course abstract

The study course is aimed at the development of students’ foreign language (English) knowledge and skills necessary for comprehending, interpreting and evaluating professional information and scientific literature, explaining and comparing processes, participating in discussions, international scientific conferences, giving presentations in professional and academic environments as well as for communication with foreign students, specialists and academic staff. The focus is on the terminology related to the subject field of geographic information systems and remote sensing. The English language proficiency level corresponds to at least level B2 according to the Common European Framework

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge and understanding of scientific and formal language style in scientific texts and publications, conference proceedings, terminology in the English language related to geographic information systems and remote sensing. Students know terms from the field of:
• university education, geographic information systems, remote sensing, geodesy (Test 1);
• cartography, land management, agriculture, forestry, photogrammetry (Test 2).
Skills: students are able to define terms, select professional and scientific information, think critically, explain processes, apply professional terminology, they have developed communication skills and academic language skills: in written form - writing business letters, summary, annotation; orally – participating in case studies, discussions, role plays, group work, discussions, giving a presentation, a seminar, collaborating with group mates in order to achieve a task’s goal, analyzing and evaluating their learning.
Competence: students are able to apply professional and academic English language creatively in spoken and written communication in conferences, for student mobility, professional and academic activities in international environment.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Requirements of the course. Post-graduate studies at a university. English for academic purposes. Scientific language style and formal style in scientific publications and conference proceedings. 2h
2. Terminology of geographic information systems and remote sensing. Various dictionaries and glossaries of terms, their structure. Dictionaries for English term definitions and meanings. Defining terms.
3. Master thesis, its structure and topicality. Group discussion: planning, organizing and conducting research activities in English. 2h
4. Skills, duties required for a specialist of geographic information systems and remote sensing. Europass CV. Letter of application.2h
5. Analysis of the content and structure of scientific texts, acquiring the necessary terms. Scientific publications in the field of geographic information systems and remote sensing. 2h
6. Test # 1: university education, geographic information systems, remote sensing, geodesy. 2h
7. Formulation of the aim, tasks and hypothesis of the Master thesis. Discussion in groups. 2h
8. Research methods and methodology. Databases. 2h
9. Methods of data collection and data processing used in the research methodology. 2h
10. Descriptions of tables and images in scientific work. 2h
11. Working with scientific literature. Use of internet resources for scientific work. Plagiarism. 2h
12. Bibliographic description of the literature used. Electronic databases. Types and topics of scientific journals. 2h
13. Conclusions. Summary. Abstract.2h
14. Test # 2: cartography, land management, agriculture, forestry, photogrammetry. 2h
15. Basic rules of making academic presentations. Presentations of research findings. 2h
16. The seminar: presentations of students’ individual work.2h

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Formal test with a grade.
It is made up of cumulative assessment:
Two successfully passed tests, home assignments are submitted on time and accepted, active participation in the classes, individual work (reading of professional texts, prepared presentation on a chosen scientific article, glossary of terms) is completed. The number of the missed classes shall not exceed 20%.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Independent work:
1. reading of an independently chosen professional text (the amount: 40 000 characters);
2. giving a presentation (5-10 minutes) about the chosen scientific article in front of the class;
3. submitted glossary of terms (30 translations, 20 definitions).
Students are able to present information, summarize it, express opinions, reason logically and answer questions about a scientific article they have read.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The cumulative assessment is composed of the grades in tests, assessment during classes, assessment for the individual work, and the presentation in the seminar.

Compulsory reading

1. De Chazal E., Rogers L. Oxford EAP. A course in English for Academic Purposes. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 224 p. ISBN: 9780194001939
2. McCarthy M., O'Dell F. Academic Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2008. 176 p. ISBN-10:0521689392
3. Rosen L. J. The Academic Writer's Handbook. New York: Pearson/Longman. 2009. 578 p. ISBN 0205599109
4. Dawson C. The Mature Student's Study Guide: 2nd edition. How To Books, 2006. 211 p. ISBN: 978-1845281243

Further reading

1. Singh K. Quantitative Social Research Methods. Los Angeles ... [etc.]: Sage Publications, 2007. 431 p. ISBN:
9780761933830
2. Research for Rural Development. Annual International Scientific Conference Proceedings. Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Jelgava. ISSN 16911-4031 [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 19.01.2022.]. Pieejams: https://www2.llu.lv/research_conf/proceedings.htm
3. Kramiņa I. Angļu valoda zinātniski pētnieciskai darbībai. LU., Rīga: Latvijas Universitāte, 2007. 115 lpp. ISBN 998477208X

Periodicals and other sources

1. Latvijas Nacionālais terminoloģijas portāls. [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: http://termini.lza.lv/
2. Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitātes raksti. (Proceedings of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies). [tiešsaiste]. ISSN 1407-4427.
Rural Sustainability Research. Former: Proceedings of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Berlin: Sciendo. ISSN: 2256-0939. Pieejams: https://www.llu.lv/lv/ezurnali

Notes

Academic higher education master’s degree study programme “Geographic information systems and remote sensing” full-time